Industry 4.

0 as DNA of Agenda 2030: Information for the Evolution of a Sustainable World

Shagun Tripathi
University School of Business
Chandigarh University
shaguntripathi92@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

This research paper proposes that Industry 4.0 has a pivotal role to play in achieving SDG9 and
Agenda 2030 by leading a data driven revolution. It identifies that Industry 4.0 (with expertise in
big data, cyber-physical systems, cloud-computing, data driven intelligence for actionable
insights) can help bridge the gap between policy and action by facilitating efficient global data
generation, storage, availability, analysis and insights that support implementation, follow up and
review of SDG goals. The paper uniquely presents a conceptual DNA (Data, Networks and
Analytics) framework by which Industry 4.0 can play on its triple core strengths to contribute to
development across all 17 goals. Much like the biological DNA, this model uses information to
help design a sustainable future. It learns from shortcomings of Millennium Development Goals
and offers real time, meaningful data as a solution to previous handicaps in decisions, action and
global outreach as identified by the Secretary General’s Report. As technological penetration
increases with greater availability of communication devices, networks and data in rural and
remote areas, it is easier to connect the globe to a nexus of activities for Agenda 2030. The DNA
Framework leverages this and further presents a large canvas for experimentation and learning by
global collaboration for researchers, technocrats, businesses and policy makers alike. Industry 4.0
is still in a nascent stage and requires more challenges, scenarios and global initiative to grow into
a mega-scaled revolution. Opening itself to global collaboration and socio-economic challenges is
possibly the greatest impetus that it needs to tap into its full potential, make lasting changes and
pave way for the future. The socio-economic arena with its diverse set of problems is pregnant
with possibilities of rich returns for businesses of the 21st century and the DNA Framework shall
help unlock these opportunities to meet “triple-bottom-line” goals.
 Tripathi Shagun, UNIDO Research Paper 2016

INTRODUCTION

“Every profession bears the responsibility to understand the circumstances that enable its existence”
– Robert Gutman
“My passion for this work is related to raising my children. We must be mindful of the fact that
we are responsible, as citizens of our planet, to make sure there is a bright future for our kids”
- Beatrice Perez, Chief Sustainability Officer, Coca Cola

The above quotes illustrate the change in global view on the role of industry in sustainable
development. As a new era of industrial revolution arrives, both academics and practitioners have
been actively engaged in the discussion regarding the role of the next industrial revolution in
addressing concerns of sustainability and world progress. The possibility of aligned action by policy
makers, next generation industry, and academia and world citizens is a refreshing and welcome
change. The United Nations identified the need for this collaboration early on as the optimal way to
create a better world. This calls for study into the role of Industry 4.0 in achieving SDG9 and Agenda
2030.

THE NEED OF INDUSTRY 4.0 FOR AGENDA 2030

The ambitious and exhaustive nature of Agenda 2030 and its global scale calls for networked, data
based frameworks that facilitate monitoring, analysis, and decision making. Analytical systems
that serve as compasses for the direction of progress together with barometric capabilities of
measuring “what-is-accomplished” and “what-needs-to-be-done” are required. This need has been
correctly identified by both, the Addis-Ababa Action Agenda and in the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development. The groundwork for quantifiable progress is already underway. The
United Nations Statistical Commission’s Interagency and Expert Group on SDG Indicators
(IAEG-SDGs) have defined SDG indicators, while the Sustainable Development Solutions
Network (SDSN) has created a preliminary SDG Index and SDG Dashboard using selective global
indicators. This is a step in the right direction and indicates serious commitment towards the
fulfillment of this Agenda. However, several technological roadblocks remain. The Secretary
General’s Report on “Progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals” clearly mentions how
a global picture of progress is yet unavailable due to lack of data for segments or due to indicators
 Tripathi Shagun, UNIDO Research Paper 2016

still undergoing methodological development. This paper identifies this as a key area for Industry
4.0 to leverage its technological know-how to build global information systems in a spirit of global
partnership. In exchange, drawing on global collaboration and worldwide challenges is possibly
the greatest impetus and most rewarding pursuit that it needs to explore the bandwidth of its
capabilities and foster greater innovation and advancement.

INDUSTRY 4.0 – Meaning and Features

”In a few decades time, computers will be interwoven into almost every industrial product.”

-- Karl Steinbuch, German Computer Science Pioneer, 1966

The term “Industrie 4.0”, initially coined by the German government, describes the organization
of production processes based on technology and devices autonomously communicating with each
other along the value chain. Computer-driven systems monitor physical processes, create a virtual
copy of the physical world and make decentralized decisions based on self-organization
mechanisms. Industry 4.0 is the introduction of internet technologies into industry. It is an umbrella
term for Internet of Things (IoT), Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), Embedded Systems (ES) and
Analytics. The distinction between industry and services has become less relevant as digital
technologies are connected with industrial products and services to create hybrid products which
are neither goods nor services exclusively. Both the terms ‘Internet of Things’ and ‘Internet of
Services’ are considered elements of Industry 4.0.

METHODOLOGY

This paper analyzes secondary data on the interrelation of industry and sustainable development.
The challenges to the accomplishment of Millennium Development Goals have been studied to
identify gaps in policy and implementation on account of unavailability of data. Extant 4.0
technologies and their progress towards innovative sustainability have been evaluated for their
potential to provide solutions to the current set of challenges. A conceptual framework called DNA
(Data, Networks and Analytics) has been proposed to build the fundamental technical structure for
Agenda 2020. DNA calls for massive collaboration across the globe in terms of technology and
human resources
 Tripathi Shagun, UNIDO Research Paper 2016

DNA FRAMEWORK

“What gets measured, gets done” -- management adage.

In the biological sciences, DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in humans
and other organisms. The main function of DNA is the long term storage of vital information which
tell cells how to function, passing it on to the next generation of life. It serves as a template for
future generations of species and transmits characteristics across generations through genetically
encoded information.
The DNA Framework, a conceptual model for attaining a sustainable future works on similar
principles. Here, DNA stands for Data, Networks and Analytics which are the three core
capabilities of Industry 4.0. These are also the necessities of the implementation of Agenda 2030.
This framework acts as the information-containing genome of the planet for a sustainable future.
The sustainability footprint of the current world population is captured in the form of data,
connected through networks and analysed using modern analytical systems to draw inferences. It
calls for global collaboration and seeks to empower world citizens through social inclusion. The
Addis Ababa Action Agenda identified that “High-quality disaggregated data is an essential input
for smart and transparent decision-making, including in support of the post-2015 agenda and its
means of implementation, and can improve policymaking at all levels. A focus on quantitative and
qualitative data, including open data, and statistical systems and administrations at the national
and sub-national level will be especially important in order to strengthen domestic capacity,
transparency and accountability in the global partnership”. Exhibit 1 illustrates DNA:

Exhibit 1
Capability Role in AGENDA 2030 & SDG9
Data The availability of relevant data is a crucial necessity. Data on population
demographics, planning, global outreach of schemes, availability of resources,
efficiencies of processes and machines, energy/resource utilization and policies
needs to be captured at strategic data collection points. Since this data is highly
unstructured, research is required to develop capabilities to assign structure, order
and refine it for suitable processing.
 Tripathi Shagun, UNIDO Research Paper 2016

Networks Immobile and stagnant data is as good as no data. Captured data needs to be shared
with necessary parties. Often the point at which data is generated and point where
it is meaningfully stored or analyzed are distant in space and time. Global
networks that facilitate the transmission of data help in channelizing data in the
right direction and involving world wide effort to meet challenges. They play a
major role in integrating economic, financial and social activities around the globe
and help in social inclusion.
Analytics Data once collected and stored needs to be analyzed to draw actionable insights.
Analysis helps in both planning and monitoring, both of which are Siamese twins.
Efficiencies and effectiveness can be analyzed. While organizations are looking
into sustainability analytics to meet triple bottom line goals, the same capabilities
can be modelled for policy makers to enable sustainable decision making.
Healthcare and finance are two extremely important areas where analytics has a
role to play for Agenda 2030.

INDUSTRY 4.0 – Developments that utilize DNA

Exhibit 2 summarizes the various developments in which Industry 4.0 addresses sustainability.
Exhibit 2

Intelligent Assets and The interplay between circular economy and intelligent assets provides
Circular Economy a fertile ground for innovation and value creation. Circular economy
value drivers include replacing the prevailing ‘take, make and dispose’
economic model with one that puts reusability and recyclability at the
fore. A growing number of businesses (manufacturing, built
environment and infrastructure, energy and utilities, agriculture and
fishing, logistics and waste management, smart cities) are harnessing the
synergies between circular economy and intelligent asset value drivers
for solutions created by these businesses could profoundly change the
resource productivity of societies by forming new ecosystems of
services that eliminate negative externalities and waste.
 Tripathi Shagun, UNIDO Research Paper 2016

Sustainability Analytics Analytics form a major pillar of strength in the Internet of Services. At
first, many companies pursued sustainability because it was good for
their public image. But over time, businesses found that sustainability
was also a great way to reduce their operating costs and insulate
themselves from resource shortages and price shocks. By collecting and
analyzing data on a wide range of sustainability-related factors—
including energy and resource use, greenhouse gas emissions, and
supply chain performance—companies can generate the deep insights
they need to guide their sustainability-related initiatives and improve
their overall resource efficiency. The Earth Institute and Columbia
University’s School of Professional Studies developed the Certification
of Professional Achievement in Sustainability Analytics to address the
need to formally train managers in specific quantitative and technical
skills central to practicing sustainability.
Industry 4.0 as an The CSCP hosted Unconference to celebrate its 10th anniversary and
enabler of Sustainable achievements where Industry 4.0 was identified as enabler of sustainable
Lifestyles lifestyles. It suggests studying future consumption patterns of
consumers and finding synergies that help promote sustainable choices
among consumers.

Internet of Things IoT technologies are perfectly suited to environmental sustainability

because they’re both communicative and analytical. IoT has created
much hope for sustainability with numerous applications such as a)
Smart Cities b) IoT for Sustainability in Energy (Renewables and Smart
Grids) c) IoT for sustainability in Water d) IoT for Sustainability in
Transportation.

Big Data Besides allowing massive data storage and processing, it also plays a
complementary role with IoT to enable decision making. Huge
possibilities emerge in areas of healthcare and financial inclusion.
 Tripathi Shagun, UNIDO Research Paper 2016

Cloud Computing Cloud services make a positive contribution to sustainability: The cloud
encourages important clean-tech applications like smart grids and it also
encourages consumers to use virtual services such as video streaming to
replace resource-heavy physical products. The cloud also draws
resources to where they are used most efficiently and its jobs tend to be
cleaner and safer than those of more traditional industries.
Cyber Physical Systems The vision for Industry 4.0 is that everything will be networked through
CPSs – ‘people, things, processes, services and data’. Production will be
more flexible and faster; data will be available to all involved in real
time. Increased interconnected data should bring efficiency gains and
improved productivity, as resources are used as effectively as possible.
This ultimately leads to improved sustainability.

CONCLUSION AND FUTURE SCOPE

In this paper, state of the art review of current developments in the applications of Industry 4.0 for
Agenda 2030 and SDG9 have been presented. The potential of Industry 4.0 to drive lasting changes
is unparalleled; its utilization as the “DNA” of Agenda 2030 and SDG 9 is an excellent area of
overlap between technology, society, politics, economics and industry. The paper highlights the
need for global collaboration of skills and expertise. Seamless transition into the future needs to
be facilitated with necessary political, social and legal frameworks, extensive research and
projects. Partnerships and the ease of partnerships shall determine the effectiveness of data level,
network level and analytical level of success. DNA once embedded into the social, political and
business structure can go a long way in ensuring successful implementation and monitoring of
SDG9 and Agenda 2030.

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 Tripathi Shagun, UNIDO Research Paper 2016

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